Ajmal Shahzad loves to bash the white ball around the park.

But Sussex’s latest signing admits he has come south for what he calls the “bread and butter” of his life as a professional cricketer.

And that means a full and successful season in the County Championship.

The former England international has signed a three-year deal at Hove after parting company with Notts, where he has spent the last two summers.

Shahzad looked for new pastures after speaking to Notts boss Mick Newell. He was handed a Championship challenge he fancied by Mark Robinson at Sussex.

Shahzad, who hails from Yorkshire of Pakistani parents, told The Argus: “Over the last couple of years I’ve only had seven or eight red-ball games per season .

“One-day cricket has not been a problem. I missed a few T20 games in the first year but in the second year I featured a lot.

“But four-day cricket is a big thing for me. I’ve represented England in red-ball cricket.

“It’s your bread and butter. White-ball is enjoyable. Red-ball is about consistency.

“I sat down with Mick Newell and he gave me options. He said I could extend for a year but Will Gidman had just signed and he would be batting No.8 and bowling as fourth seamer so he said I wouldn’t really feature until the back end of the season in red-ball cricket.

“With that in mind he said I could look to speak to other clubs. Sussex were right there. We’ve spoken and it is very positive. They have given me a role I see myself doing.

“They want me to be an aggressive fast bowler, to go in and bowl quick. They don’t need me to do too much with the ball. Notts were trying to get me to swing the ball away but I’m more of a seam bowler who can angle it in.

“It is very difficult to change and do what they wanted.”

Shahzad took 18 Championship wickets at 40.56 from just eight games last year.

He said: “I used to be told maybe half an hour before the game that I was playing.

“That wasn’t the best in terms of my preparation.

“I know it’s not cast in stone that I will play at Sussex. I will have to bowl well and contribute with the bat at No. 8 or No. 9.

“But I have the opportunity to do what I want to do – and what Sussex are looking for – and possibly even work my way up the batting order.”

Robinson believes Shahzad can play the bowling all-rounder role that helped Jordan into the England team.

That, in turn, is bound to raise the question as to whether the right-hander with 13 ODI and three T20 appearances for his country could find a way back into the international frame.

“I’ve been happy with myself in one-day cricket and I’ve got better from year to year,” he said.

“Playing for England in one-day cricket doesn’t seem a million miles away.

“In red-ball cricket at the moment I’m way down the pecking order. I don’t want to be called a one-cap wonder.

“But I’m 29, I’ll be 30 midway through next season, so, if it comes, it will be in the next couple of years. My stats look good but I want to win trophies.”